"The Dark Phoenix Saga" | |
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Cover of X-Men Legends Volume 2: Dark Phoenix Saga (1990), trade paperback collected edition. Art by John Byrne.
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Publisher | Marvel Comics |
Publication date | January – October 1980 |
Genre | |
Title(s) | The X-Men #129–138 |
Main character(s) |
X-Men Hellfire Club Lilandra Shi'ar Imperial Guard Phoenix Force |
Creative team | |
Writer(s) |
Chris Claremont John Byrne |
Penciller(s) | John Byrne |
Inker(s) | Terry Austin |
Letterer(s) | Tom Orzechowski |
Colorist(s) | Glynis Wein |
Dark Phoenix Saga |
"The Dark Phoenix Saga" is an extended X-Men storyline in the fictional Marvel Comics Universe, focusing on Jean Grey and the Phoenix Force. It was written by Chris Claremont with art by Dave Cockrum and John Byrne.
It is sometimes divided into two parts, with the "Phoenix Saga" (Uncanny X-Men #101-108, 1976–1977) referring to Grey's seeming assumption of the Phoenix power and the repair of the M'Kraan Crystal, and the "Dark Phoenix Saga" (Uncanny X-Men #129-138, 1980) referring to her corruption and fall. It is one of the most well-known and heavily referenced stories in mainstream American superhero comics, and widely considered a classic.
It was adapted for the X-Men animated series, and alluded to in the movie X2: X-Men United. A third movie, X-Men: The Last Stand, released in 2006, contains some elements from the saga. Wolverine and the X-Men adapted the "Dark Phoenix Saga" at the end of its first season, though it changed many elements of the story.
Returning from a mission in space, Jean Grey is exposed to the deadly radiation of a solar flare, and briefly attains her ultimate potential as a telepath and telekinetic. Jean becomes a being of pure thought, and then reforms herself upon return to Earth with the new costume, identity and power of "Phoenix". It is with this incredible power that Jean repairs the fractured M'Kraan Crystal, but voluntarily restrains her powers afterward in order to keep them under control. Tragically the circuit breakers prevent her from defeating Magneto and start the chain of events leading to Dark Phoenix.